30.09.202607:39:51UTC+00European Stock Set to End September Lower

European stocks traded higher on Wednesday, with the STOXX 50 up 0.5% to a three-week peak and the STOXX 600 advancing 0.7%, as most sectors moved into positive territory. Utilities and mining led the gains, while the energy sector slipped into the red. Among major constituents, ASML rose 0.8%, Novartis 1.1%, Airbus 1.3% and Safran 1.2%, whereas TotalEnergies declined 1%.

Wednesday’s advance on the final trading day of September was not enough to offset earlier weakness. For the month, the STOXX 50 is down 1.5% and the STOXX 600 has lost 2%, marking its first monthly decline in six months. The renewed rise in energy prices this month—amid stalled negotiations between the US and Iran—has added to inflationary pressures and reinforced expectations of tighter monetary policy. For the third quarter as a whole, the STOXX 50 is broadly flat, while the STOXX 600 is down 0.6%.